Area of Concentration

About

The Criminal Prosecution and Defense Practice Area of Concentration offers advanced training in trial advocacy skills, theory and most importantly the "hands-on" practical experience that is necessary to be practice ready and hit the ground running as an effective advocate in the criminal justice arena.

Graduates who receive this specialized concentration Award will have a competitive advantage in applying for positions with law firms that desire candidates with demonstrated excellence in litigation skills. This includes not only public defender and public prosecutor offices, but also civil law firms and governmental agencies seeking talented litigators.

Through these programs you will come in contact with some of the top criminal justice professionals in the country and gain in-court experience in representing actual clients.

Courses

Grounded in the philosophy that a broad diversity of experience is essential for excellence in advocacy, you will have a great degree of flexibility in choosing courses tailored to your specific interests from three categories of courses.

The Concentration is anchored around Core Practicum courses such as:

Advanced Criminal Justice (which includes The Bail Project)

Advanced Criminal Litigation

Advanced Prosecution Function

California Sentencing

Evidence Advocacy

Forensic Evidence

The California Innocence Project

The Traffic Court Clinic

There are also opportunities to explore specialized substantive areas including:

White Collar Crime

Human Rights Law

Immigration Law

Juvenile Justice

Domestic Violence

Mental Health Law

International Criminal Law

Additional core course offerings you may select from include:

Constitutional Law II

Criminal Law Theory

Wrongful Conviction Seminar

Criminal Procedure II

Problem Solving & Preventive Law

A third category of courses called Closely Related electives include

Advanced Legal Research

Accounting for Lawyers

American Legal History II

Legal History Seminar: The Warren Court

Civil Rights & Constitutional Litigation

Constitutional Law Seminar

Current Issues in Constitutional Law

Federal Income Tax

Jurisprudence

Legislation & Negotiation

Apply

Further information may also be obtained from the Admissions Office and the Application Form